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Mindset

5 Speaker Prep Tips for In-Person Events

May 10, 2022 by Mary Cravets Leave a Comment

After two years of virtual events, even very experienced speakers may have forgotten how to navigate speaking at a live event.

Including this girl.

Having knocked out my first 4 in-person gigs, here are my top 5 tips with details about how to get back in the saddle!

Tip #1: Micro-manage in-person events.

Tip #2: Deliver full presentation, no matter what.

Tip #3: Set your criteria for speaking for free (and stick to them!).

Tip #4: Practice, practice, practice your offer! 

Tip #5: Be mindful of your need for approval.

Filed Under: Blog, Entrepreneurship, Messaging, Mindset, Networking, Speaking, Strategy

100% Open Rate, Lesson 2 (an email program I love)

April 25, 2022 by Mary Cravets Leave a Comment

If you read Lesson 1, you know the lesson is to get started imperfectly.

Lesson 2 is about getting started simply.

And one of the biggest barriers to simplicity these days is technology.

Let’s go back to my client who had just 1 person on her list. Once she made the decision to start sending emails, the next hurdle was: which program to use?

To dip a toe into the overwhelming number of options, do a quick search for “email sending programs.” You will see endless ads and articles that “narrow” down to the top 23 options (ugh).

In the spirit of true simplicity, I’m going to narrow it down to 1 for you.

The program I recommend is Constant Contact.

Yes, I know, it’s kind of old school, but here is why I recommend it:

  1. Customer Service. Seriously, I shouldn’t even write #2 or #3, because this is SO huge. While there are free programs out there like MailMonkey and SendPurple (names have been changed) – the sheer time and frustration you’ll spend on trying to figure out the answers on your own or dig through community forums to get answers… believe me, the $10-20 a month is worth it.
  2. Simple Tech. So easy to build an email, add your contacts, send an email. Years ago, a 70-year-old client of mine who was not super tech-savvy built and sent her first email within an hour (with the help of their outstanding customer service).
  3. Scalable. Start simple with email. Then if you want to add a landing page? Constant Contact can do that. Event marketing? Social media marketing? Integrations with other programs? Yep, CC can do that too.

This is a very specific example, of course. For whatever you’re trying to accomplish right now, here is a quick-start approach to simplifying:

  • What is the goal or project?
  • What are all the things getting in the way? (brainstorm)
  • Regardless of what you’ve done in the past and all of the barriers, what is the SIMPLEST way to reach the goal? In particular, consider how to make it technologically easiest.
  • What is the first step? When will you take it?

Filed Under: Blog, Goal Setting, Humor, Messaging, Mindset, Speaking

100% Open Rate, Lesson 1

April 20, 2022 by Mary Cravets 1 Comment

My client got a 100% open rate the very first time she sent an email to her list.

WOW. How did she do that?

Well… she only had 1 person on her list.

So – surprise! The open rate isn’t the lesson.

The lesson came in an earlier conversation after she said to me, “I’ll start keeping in touch with my list once it’s bigger.”

To which I replied, “Start now. Build the habit and systems. Create a container to put great people who want the gift of your content and resources into.”

Too often the pursuit of perfect, polished, ready, or even just “good enough”, derails getting started.

But the truth is, it’s the trying, the trial and error, actually putting yourself out there and DOING IT, that gets you the result you want.

So send the emails before you have a big list… and you will grow your list.

Do the speaking inquiries before your presentation is perfect… and you will get great at speaking.

Record that video before you fully understand how it fits into your strategy… and you will get comfortable in front of the camera and attract a following.

My client will likely never get a 100% open rate again, but she embraced the lesson of getting started imperfectly.

Filed Under: Blog, Goal Setting, Humor, Messaging, Mindset, Speaking

Lesson from a Pile of Rocks

March 11, 2022 by Mary Cravets 7 Comments

It’s surprising what a pile of rocks can teach you.

I was dusting my office the other day and discovered several bags of beach rocks I’d collected, but hadn’t yet incorporated into a display I have in my office.

The display is for my favorite rocks. (don’t laugh at me – I LOVE collecting rocks)

As I added to my display, I started to run out of space and realized I was going to have to trade out some of the old rocks to make room for the new (better, more beautiful) ones. Which got me thinking…

The same thing happens in business. In the early years, you start “collecting” opportunities, systems and strategies, and they are great at the moment. But as time goes on, you find better opportunities.

And things start to get crowded.

So you find yourself having to either cram everything in, OR make some tough decisions to leave behind things that early on were perfect, but now… just aren’t good enough.

Do you really have to leave things behind?

Yes. Absolutely.

Because they’re crowding out new and better opportunities.

I’m wondering – as you read this, did anything pop into your mind? Maybe a decision you’ve been wrestling with about leaving something behind?

Filed Under: Blog, Mindset, Stress and Overwhelm

3 Unusual Perspectives on Priorities and Time

January 11, 2022 by Mary Cravets Leave a Comment

Am I the only one having trouble fitting it all in? 

I committed to working less, I set my goals, I prioritized, and STILL I have to keep a vigilant eye on my time management. 

I figure I’m not alone, so here are three resources for you. The first two are TED talks that shake up your assumptions about procrastination and creativity. The last one has a slightly lower viewership, but has perspectives my clients find valuable. 

1. Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator 

2. The Surprising Habits of Original Thinkers 

3. Breaking the “One More Thing” Habit 

Share your favorite time management solutions, please! 

Filed Under: Blog, Mindset, Priorities, Strategy, Time Management

14 Words from Mom: My Key to Success in 2022

December 20, 2021 by Mary Cravets 8 Comments

I’ve been feeling burned out, and was considering taking December completely off to get my energy back. 

But it occurred to me that I’m already good at taking time completely off. And I’ve got mad skills for (over)working at a breakneck speed. 

What I’m NOT good at is a consistent, moderate pace. 

So instead of taking the month off, I decided to take December to start building much-needed moderation habits. 

When I shared my thought process with my mom, she responded, “Live your life in a way that doesn’t require you to recover from it.” 

Mom nailed it in 14 words, and it’s my new mantra. 

Filed Under: Blog, Mindset, Stress and Overwhelm

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